Obama Proposes “Lawful Prospective Immigrant” Visa

President Obama has proposed the creation of a new “Lawful Prospective Immigrant” visa specifically for illegal immigrants that would allow those who are here illegally to remain in the country while they await permanent legal status.

Citing a draft report that was leaked to USA Today on February 16, Fox News reported today that President Obama has proposed the creation of a new “Lawful Prospective Immigrant” visa specifically for illegal immigrants. The new visa would allow those who are here illegally to remain in the country while they await permanent legal status.

One of the first comments on the proposal was from Sen. John McCain, who told NBC: "Leaks don't happen in Washington by accident. This raises the question that many of us continue to wonder about: Does the president really want a result or does he want another cudgel to beat up on Republicans so he that can get political advantage in the next election?"

Among other Republicans making public statements about the Obama plan was Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who toldFox News Sundaythat the president had created a politically unviable proposal. “The president is torpedoing his own plan,” said Paul. “It shows me he is really not serious.... The bill won’t pass.”

Paul’s sentiments were shared by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who called the White House plan "half-baked and seriously flawed," noting: “If actually proposed, the president's bill would be dead on arrival in Congress, leaving us with unsecured borders and a broken legal immigration system for years to come.”

Rep. Paul Ryan, last year’s GOP vice presidential candidate who is chairman of the House Budget Committee, said on ABC’s This Week program:

Putting these details out without a guest worker program, without addressing future flow, by giving advantage to those who cut in front of line for immigrants who came here legally, not dealing with border security adequately, that tells us that he's looking for a partisan advantage and not a bipartisan solution.

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